Fish directing machine



y 8, 1952 A. L. CHRISTIANSEN 2,602,183

FISH DIRECTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 hay y 1952A. 1.. CHRISTIANSEN 2,602,183

FISH DIRECTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8, 1952 A.L. CHRISTIANSEN 2,602,183

FISH DIRECTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1949 PatentedJuly 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE in 2,602,183 FISH DIRECTINGMACHINE Andrew L. Christiansen, Compton, Calif. Application September29, 1949, Serial No. 118,649

M Claims.

v This invention relates generally to fish processing machines used incanneries for processing and canning fish, and particularly to amachine, hereinafterreferred to as afish directing machine, employed forplacing the fish in the positions necessary to operate upon them insubsequent processing machines.

In the processing of fish in canneries, it is theand tails therefrom andclean the same preparatory to cooking. The operation of sorting the fishand directing the same in the proper order is a laborious and costlyone, and various expedients have been devised for eliminating thismanual operation. However, such fish directing or g positioning machineshave been quite complicated and costly to produce, besides beinginefficient and undependable in operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fish directingmachine which is adapted toreceive fish, which are delivered thereto ina haphazard manner, and to place the fish in the order necessary'tooperate upon them in a subsequent machine of the fish processing system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fish-directing machinewhich functions to first cause the fish to assume a side-by-siderelationship with their heads directed in either direction, and tothereafter move th fish transversely and simultaneously in the directionof their heads so that some fish are moved in one direction while othersare moved in the opposite direction to form two lines of fish, the fishof each line being positioned in the same direction and opposite to thefish of the other line. This object is best attained by providing 7 acentrifugally operated means for causing the fish to assume theside-byside relationship, and for delivering the fish in this conditionont a traveling conveyor above which is a pair of counter-rotatingbrushes, the bristles of which engage the upper sides of the fish movingforwardly with the conveyor.- The brushes rotate on axes disposedparallel to the direction of feedof the fish, and their bristles arecapable of moving fish headlong only when they engage the rearward edgesof the scales of the fish, the bristles otherwise sliding over thescales and effecting no lengthwise movement of the fish. By thisarrangement all the fish are moved headlong from the central portion ofthe conveyor to- 2 ward either longitudinal edge of the conveyor, andthus are arranged in two orderly rows.

In accordance with another object, the invention further provides adelivery conveyor from which the fish are transferred-from the directingconveyor, the delivery conveyor having a plurality of transversegrooves, each capable of supporting a fish in position with its sidesvertical. The improved machine also includes guiding means whichfunctions to turn the fish as they are ejected from the directingconveyor and deposit them in the proper position in the grooves of thedelivery convey-or, which transports the fish to a mechanism for cuttingand cleaning them.

Further objects are set forth in the following specification whichdescribes a preferred embodiment of the machine, by way of example, asillustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the fish directing machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the directing conveyor and brushes,illustrating the manner in which a fish is moved headlong by one brushtoward one longitudinal edge of the conveyor;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, and indicating the manner in whichthe other brush is moved headlong toward the other longitudinal edge ofthe conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 4. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, the fish irecting machine comprisesa frame it which includes longitudinal side rails ll supported above thefioor by legs I2. The legs are extended upwardly in uprights orstanchions l3 which are connected by strips M. The rails II are held inspaced relation by cross struts I5.

Carried by a vertical shaft Iii, journaled in a bearing member I? and abracket 18, is a centrifugally operative positioning member in the formof a large disc 29. The shaft I6 carries a bevel gear 2| which mesheswith a similar gear 22 On a cross shaft 23. The shaft 23 carries asprocket 24 by which it is driven from a sprocket 25 on the shaft of anelectric motor 26 through the medium of a chain 2i, the motor beingmounted on a cross member 28 at the upper por tion of the machine. frameI0. Partially surrounding the disc 20 is an arcuate outer wall 30 whichis supported by brackets 3i (Fig. 2).

Spaced radially inward from the wall 30 is an inner wall 32 which iscarried by brackets 33. The wall 32 is volute or scroll-like in planview and co-operates with the arcuate wall 39 in providing a voluteguide 34 extending throughout substantially one-half the circumferenceof the rotatable disc 29 which forms the bottom wall of the guide. Therearward edge of the wall 311 terminates at one side of the :centerlineof 'the machine while the corresponding edge of the wall 32 extends to apoint at the other side of the centerline. Thus, the two rearward edgesprovide between them a fish dischargeiopening 35 (Fig. 2).

Carried by a shaft 36 are sprockets '31 "around which a loadingconveyori38 ,eXtends-theLcOnveyor also passing around similar idlersprockets arranged close to the fioor, but not shown. "The shaft 36 isdriven from the electric motor 26 by means of sprockets 39 and 4023,1161a 'chaim'M (Fig. 1). A hopper may be-provided into which the fish to 'beprocessed are dumpedthe fish then being received on the conveyor '38an'd carried thereby upwardly. 'Atthe' pointf reversal of the conveyor=38, the fish are discharged into an inclined chute 42- through whichthe fishxslide haphazardly onto the disc- 20,'as shownin' Figi2. Uponsliding movement onto the disc 28,.the fish are thrown radially outwardagainst 'the wall 39 under the influence of centrifugal-forceyand thusare moved 'in'an arcuate path within the guide island caused'to assume aposition-with either their backs or bellies sliding along the outer wall33. As the fish approach the discharge opening 35 their leading endsstrike -=a-transversely adjustable stop plate 45, so'that each 'fishso'advanced by the disc 281s 'disposedsubstantially in alignment withthe centerline of the machine. The advanced fish encounter a pivotedgate 46 which functions to permit discharge of fish when a group thereofbuilds up at the opening 35.

Fish fthus discharged throughtheopening -35 are arranged with theirheads pointed' toward either longitudinal side of the machine, the fishbeing discharged onto an endlessdirecting conveyor 59 which ispreferably made from'wiremesh fabric. The conveyor 50 extends aroundpulleys and 52 carried by shafts 5? 1 and 54 journaled in brackets '55and 56, the bracket 5 being adjustable longitudinally of the machineframeby screw means 5! (Fig. -1) to take up slack in the conveyor beltin the-eventthatthe latter stretches.

At the beginning of the longitudinal movement of the fish f with theconveyor 59, the fish are arranged in a single line at the longitudinalcenter of the conveyor with their-heads directed toward either side edgethereof.- However, during their travel with the conveyor 50, the fishare moved laterally toward the longitudinal edges of the conveyor withtheir headsdirected outwardly, that ,iSyill directions awayfrom thecenterlineof the conveyor so as to formtwo rows of the fish, by means tobe next described.

Mounted at the end of longitudinal struts 59 of the machine frame arebrackets 60 which carry bearings for the ends of a'transverse shaft 62.

A second transverse shaft 64 is adapted to be driven from the shaft 62by sprockets and .a chain 6?. The shaft 62 also drives the shaft 54 ofthe conveyor 50 to drive the latter through the medium of sprockets anda chain'lll. The shaft 64 carries bevel gears :12 which mesh withsimilar gears 13 at the ends of longitudinally -l5-by means of sprocketsand chains 86.

.Jorushes 82 and 83 which have radial bristles, the brushes constitutingfish-directing members. :The shafts 8B and 8!, together with the brushes82 and 83, are rotated from the shafts M and Due to theasystem'ofb'evelrgears l2 and 73, the brushes 82 and 83 are rotated in oppositedirections, as

indicated by the arrows in Figs. 5 and 6, the brush 82 rotatingcounterclockwise and the brush 83 rotating clockwise. 'l-Theilowerportions of the peripheries "J'Of 'ztheubrushestare izdisposedl at tanceuabove'the conveyor '5ll"which:is sub ta tiallyequal to the thickness ofit'he fish'f-birig processed. "Consequently, when 'a fish f' moves intoposition beneath thebrushBZ and its 'head is pointed toward theright,as"viewed in'"Fig; 5, the tips of the'bristles catch against 'there'arward edgesof :the iscalesiofithis fishgand' this; providesrsufiicient conta'ct to cause tliefish to be propelled i hea'dlongtoward :the right "where it may strike against a longitudinal g ua'rd"81. Other i-fishsimilarlydirected by the brush fllare arranged i in therow whichis carried forwardly bytthe conveyor T59.

Fish which enter the directing zone in the reverse direction; that is;with their headspointedtoward"the left, as viewed in Figs; 5 'and' 6,merely pass under the brush -82 due to the fact that the rearwardedgesof their-scales cannot be engaged by the bristles of the-brush 82.'I'hat'is to say, the bristles of the brush fl'merely slide across the*scales without moving the fish; However, after'these fish leavethe'area beneath thebrush'BZ, they moveinto position to be engaged bythe brush 83'which, due to'the p'osition of the scales 'of the fish andthe cloc'kwise rotation of thebrush, cause these'fish to be propelled,as indicated by the' arrows in Fig. -4,"and toward the-left and againstaguard 88,'-asshown in Fig. 6. "By this action, all "fish which havetheir heads pointed toward the left -are -'moved in'thisdirectionby thebrush' 83 and-form a r'o'w V which'iscarried forwardly by theconveyor'EU.

It 'is thus-seen that fish entering the conveyor 50 and having theirheads pointing opposite directions are separatedand'movedin'thedirection of their heads, to be arranged in rows or lines of fish'at theopposite sides of the'centerline of the conveyor-and to be movedforwardly by the latter.

To'enable the machine-to direct fishof'difierent sizes-and types, the*stop plate 45 may be "adjusted' as previously "explained. 'Inad'dition, "the brushes -82 and is-{may be "adjusted 'vertic'allybyswinging-the armslfi and '19 ontheir' pivot shafts Miami $5. lhe armsarefheld in theiradjusted position'hy'means of"chains '90 which havetheir lower 'endsconnecte'd tothe arms. and their upper 'en-dsjoined :toscrews "9| adjustable in a crossstrip 9? of the machine frame.

.After being sortedand arranged in rows .at .the sides'of the conveyor'50,'the tworows of ffis'h are advanced 'by this conveyor to the pointwhere the conveyor "reverses its direction of movement, that is, at thepulley 52. The fish, which are mounted on stationary brackets 95.

disposedflatwise on the conveyorfiil, fall, from the conveyor and areguided in their downward path by an inclined plate 94 which .isadjustably The fish are thus caused to fall with their sides verticalinto the V-shaped grooves 96 provided between transverse elements s'i ofa delivery conveyor 98. The horizontal conveyor 538 extends around asprocket 99 on a shaft Its and a similar sprocket (not shown) which isdriven by a suitable electric motor. A chain lei, extending around asprocket on the shaft Hill, and a sprocket on the shaft 62 drives thelatter and the conveyor 50 and the brushes 82 and 83 which are drivenfrom the shaft 62. The delivery conveyor 98 transports the two rows offish toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and as the fish approach thelimit of their movement in this direction they are transferred to thefeeding mechanism of.

a cutting and cleaning machine. Since this mechanism forms no, part ofthe present inven tion, it is not disclosed herein.

While the machine is herein disclosed as embodied in a preferred form ofconstruction, by way of example, it will be apparent that modificationsmight be made in its structure without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Consequently, without limiting myself in this respect, Iclaim: V

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of: a frame; acentrifugally operative positioning member rotatable on said frame;means for feeding fish to said positioning member; guidemeans on saidframe providing a discharge opening through which the fish aredischarged individually in a combined tangential and radial directionfrom said positioning member in a directiontransversely of their lengthunerative to convey the fish in a direction transversely of theirlength; and at least one directing member rotatable above said conveyormeans on an axis extending longitudinally of said conveyor means, theperiphery of said directin member being engageable with the fish beingconveyed therebeneath and operative to directthe fish in the directionof their length, transversely of said conveyor means. I

2. In a machine of the class described, the com bination of: a frame; ahorizontal positioning disc rotatableon said frame; a curved stationaryguide wall surrounding the periphery of said disc; a stationary curvedwall having an end defining with an end of said guide Wall a dischargeopening; a chute for receiving fish and delivering the samesubstantially tangentially onto said disc, said delivered fish beingmoved radially outward on said disc into lengthwise engagement with saidguide wall and movable therealong in the direction of rotation of saiddisc under the action of centrifugal force, said fish dischargingradially through said discharge opening in .a direction transversely oftheir length; a directing conveyor movable on said frame in said radialdirection with respect to the axis of rotation of said disc and'havingan end disposed beneath said discharge opening to adapt it to receivesaid fish discharged from said disc with the fish disposed with theirlengths extending transversely of the conveyor;

conveyor, the periphery of said directing member being engageable withthe fish being conveyed therebeneath and operative to move the fishinthe direction of their length,,transversely of said conveyor so as todirect the fish toward frame and have engaging means on theirperipheries operative to engage only the rearward edges of the scales ofthe fish so as to move the fish headlong toward the longitudinal edgesof said conveyor. I v

4. The combination defined in claim 2 including a pair of said directingmembers and in which said directing members are rotatable on armspivoted to said frame and are rotary brushes having substantially radialbristles engageable only with the rearward edges of the scales of thefish so as to move the fish headlong toward the longitudinal edges ofsaid conveyor.

5. The combination defined in claim 2, including a pair of saiddirecting members and in which said directing members are rotatable onarms pivoted to said frame and are circular brushes having substantiallyradial bristles engageable only with the rearwardedges of the scalesofthe fish so as to move the fish headlong toward the longitudinal edgesof said conveyor, said com-v bination also including guide membersextending longitudinally along the edges of said conveyor for retainingsaid directed fish on the conveyor for movement therewith.

' 6. The combination defined in claim 2, including a pair of saiddirecting members and in which. said directing members are rotatable onarms pivoted to said frame and are brushes having substantially radialbristles engageableonly with the rearward edges-of the scales of thefish so as to move the fish headlong toward the longitudinal edges ofsaid conveyor, said combination also including adjusting means foradjusting said arms vertically toward and away from said conveyor. I

7. The combination defined in claim 2, including a pair of saiddirecting members and in which said directing members are rotary brusheshaving substantially radial bristles engageable with the rearward edgesof the scales of the fish so as to move. the fish headlong toward thelongitudinal edges of said conveyor; said directing members beingcarried by arms pivoted on said frame, said arms normally pivotingdownwardly under the action of gravity, and means for limiting thedownward movement of said arms so as to disposethe peripheries of saiddirecting members at selected distances above said conveyor.

'8. In a machine of the class described, the

rotation of said 'disc under the action of cen-- trifugal force, saidfish discharging radially and at least one directing member rotatableabove said conveyor on an axis extending longitudinally of said iaerated:

length adirecting conveyor movable on :said::

frame insai'd radial "direction with respect to-th'er axis ofrotationoff-said; disc and having an end;

disposedlbeneath saidfiisoharga opening to adapt into-receive said fishdischarged-from said dis'c with the" fish disposedwith their lengths ex?tendingtransversely ofthe conveyor;- a stop member adjustabletransversely of said frame and against which the leading ends of thefishdischarged from saiddisc engage to" be positioned' centrally ofsaidlconveyor; *agate:v piv' oted" transversely :of"- said frameadjacent saidopeningandunder which said fishdischargedfrom said disc pass; at least'one "directing memeber-rotatable above said conveyor on an axis extendinglongitudinally of said conveyor;- the pe--= riphery of saiddirecting member-'beingen liv'ered *fisli being movedradially"outward-omsaid disc-inte lengthwise engagement =With 'saidWa1-Fand movable therealong' in the'direction of -rota-"--- tion of- -said"disc underthe' action-of centrifugal force; said fish dischargingradially'through said opening transversely of theirlength;an-endlessgmesh;*directingconveyormovable-on said" frame in" said radialdirection andha-ving an end: dis? posed beneathsa-iol' opening" andadapted to re ceive said fish dischargedfrom *said disc; apair ofdirecting members rotatable" above said conveyor on axes extendinglongitudinally of said conveyor; the-' periphe'ries of 'said directing'mem I hers-being engageable with the fish: being=con veyed:tlie'rebeneath and operative to move the fish" in the direction oftheir length; transversely of said conveyor, said directing membersbeing rotatabledn'opposite'directions so as to direct the fisl'rtovvard' the longitudinal edges of said .oon-

veyo'r; *and adjusting means-for adjusting said directing members:vertically toward and. away-- fromsaid'conveyor.-.

10';- The -combination defined'in claim andinp-u 1 eluding:aloadingconveyor movable on said frame fordelivering the: fishintovsaidchutez.

l-lt Th'e combinationadefined; iniiclaimiy2,l and including?- adischarge. conveyor 'movablei? on; said; frame in awpathzcoextensivewith said: directing; conveyor and; below thee-plane; of the. same;said-1 discharge: conveyor: having. an: and disposed. FOB-"1' neath anend of said directing conveyor and being adapted.;to:receive:fish-iromsaid directinafoonveyorzand to iicon-vey the: fish to atpoint;.-remote-= from saiddiscifor processing,-

12;. The combination defined; in claim 2,- and; including? a: dischargeconveyor'movable on a said i frame in-ra path coextensivewith saiddirecting COIIVGYQI'i-Eilld.;b61OW-th6 plane of the. same, saiddischarge -;conveyor having an end disposed! be neathangendof said.directing; conveyorand .beinga.

adaptedr to receive :fish 'from said directin con-. veyor and-to conveythe-fisnto a point remote: from said disc-.for-processingsaid dischargeconveyor. having: 1, transverselyextending grooves adapted-to supportthe fish edsewise witntheir a backs-or. belliesuppermost;thecombination-also;- in'cluding .aniinclineditransfenguidecelementtdiseposed? between said i directing conveyor? and? said:

dischargei-conveyorrfor guidingithe fish: from? said: i

directing .conveyorz downwardly onto' said dis-1.

chargesconveyor said element cos-operating: withl' said directing;conveyor to turn said fish'fromza positionzin which their sides areihorizontaltd a position. in': which theirsides'zare verticalsoi a'sito'permit zthe fish utorbex received in said: grooves'roft said:discharges-conveyor:

13. "Azfishtpositioning,andadeliverin apparatus; 1

comprising 14a; horizontal-i positioning disczirotah.

able: on aivertical axis: and adapted to receive fish placedzthereon inaahapha'zard mannerg ia' stationary: -part"=circular; outer? guide Wall:e16? tendingtcircumferentiailyof said'dis'c andprovida' ing;aniinnerrcurved surface; (said guide :wa'll =liav=1ingan-xendmedgeathe': fislbheing: moved radially?- outwardiyon said;disc into lengthwise engagement: withltsaid surface and: caused tomover-' along said surface inresponse to the combined action: ofirotationof said disc and centrifugal force: developedtasi a result ofsuch rotation; and: a V curved;.innerfguide wall disposedradiallyinwardly of: said" outer guide walland eccen tric'allyithereoig" saidinner guide wall havingan' end; edge :disposed: at the periphery ofsaid" discand spaced from said end edge of said'outenguide: Wall: in:theidireotion-zof rotation of "said disc to define'zaxdischarga opening:between said endedges; saidiinnerand 'touter guide walls; definingbetweenatliema curved guide;channellterminatinginrsaidildischargexopening,2 said openingb'eingtangential-ztofsaidfdisczz' 14; positioninganidol'iveringapparatus; comprising:..-.a. horizontal" positioning:discirotata able onia vertical; axis? and: adapted: to: receivefish lplaced; thereon" initaz haphazard manner; a stationary;partecircuiar;outer: guide: walli exea, tending: circumferential-11y: of said disc:and; pro:-

viding; an curved: surface, said: guide wail:

havingiant endiedgeg" thefishbeing moved: radially" outwardl c oni'said.disci-intos lengthwise engage-- mentzwitir' saidrsurfac'eiandicaused?to move along:

"said: snrfacez iniiresponse:to vthe combined action:

of Iotatiomor said. ldisciiand centrifugal forcefde' velo pe da resultof 's'nclrro tatio'n': 'anda volu'te". 11111913" guide: wall disposed:radially. inwardly of:

Saidi outera-guideIwal-L and eccentricall-y thereof;

said: inner guide wallvliavingi an end edge dis posed; at: theperiphery? ofxisai'd disc and spaced from saidendvedgeiof. said outerguidewallinithei direction of rotation of said disc tofidefine sai disechargesop'eni-ng betweenisaid'end edges: said inner and: outer:gUJidBZWBJHS i defining-i" between themw;

volute guide: channel" terminatin tin: said: dist-a chargeeopening,said: opening. being tangential-to: said dista;

AN DREW L. CHRISTIANSEN REFERENCES CITEDv The' fo-llowing'referencesareof record in the" file of this patent:

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